It pays to have Kobe Bryant on your team

China Daily | Updated: 2012-01-31 08:01

It pays to have Kobe Bryant on your team
Minnesota Timberwolves mascot Crunch dunks the ball over his spotters during halftime of the Timberwolves' NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Minneapolis on Sunday. The Lakers erased an 18-point deficit to win. [Eric Miller / Reuters]

It pays to have Kobe Bryant on your team

MINNEAPOLIS - The Los Angeles Lakers were reeling and the Minnesota Timberwolves were rolling, turning an 18-point deficit into a one-point lead with three minutes to go.

Just when it looked as though the Lakers were going to let another road game slip away, Kobe Bryant showed these young pups just how it's done in closing time.

Bryant had 35 points and 14 rebounds and Pau Gasol scored 28 to give the Lakers a much-needed road victory, 106-101 over the Timberwolves on Sunday night.